Bali Mynahs

            Bali Mynahs are a rare and beautiful bird found only on the Bali Island in Indonesia. There are as few as 60 wild Bali Mynahs that inhabit the Bali Barat National Park in its northwestern corner. There they live amongst the open woodland and openly gather in the morning hours.

In size, they are no bigger than a cardinal. However, their beauty is unique. They have exquisite white wings with black tips. Their tails also bear the black tip marking. They have a bright blue color displayed around their eyes. Their heads are toppled with a white lacy burst of feathers. They are a very vocal bird and often their chatter is accompanied with the bobbing of their heads. This is especially noticeable in their mating season.
Their main diet is that of plants and other animals significantly insects, worms, caterpillars, ants, and other invertebrates. During seasons where food is scarce they tend to travel in groups to help locate provisions.

The limited population of the Bali mynah is due to the threat of illegal pet trade. Up until 1990 there were at least 60 of the birds in existence but because of the barren nature of their habitat and their habitual grouping technique, the numbers have decreased below 10. Though they are protected by the government their capture remains a problem as they can be sold as pets for around a thousand dollars. Many of them are lost to death due to the poor conditions of shipping them illegally.

Zoos have actually developed breeding programs to help repopulate the bird and its hopeful their efforts will succeed. Luckily due to the involvement of these organizations, the numbers of illegal trade have been greatly reduced. These programs also initiate educational awareness towards these and other extinct animals. In Indonesia the Bali Mynah is the symbol of such educational programs.

There are ways you can take a stand against the extinction of animals. One way is by rejecting products which are made from animal materials such as clothing, wallets, belts, etc. Buy locally grown and produced products so you can be sure of their history. Finally, exotic pets are often sold in an immoral way. Question the heritage of the animal before making a decision to purchase. Common care goes along way in saving the lives of these and other exotic animals. No animal should be found in extinct measure to satisfy the entertaining luxuries of humankind. 

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